Revolver-type firearm with a barrel assembly including a multiple-bore barrel and a breech part releasably connected thereto



` Jan; `10,4961;

.5, mw N y y m5 M @f f. m

F.F. STEVENS. JR

Filed Aug. 30, 1955 A MULTIPLE-EURE BARREL AND A BREECH PART RELEASABLY CONNECTED THERETO REVOLVER-TYPE FIREARM WITH A BARREL ASSEMBLY INCLUDNG 595,9 W /gg 70 l HGV/O31..

wwpvmne ATTURNEYS REL AND A BREECH PART RELEASBLY CGN- NECTED `Timur-:ro

Frederick FJlStevens; Jr., Northford, Conn. (RFD.` 1, Sandy` Hook, Conn. y 06482) Filed Augatl, `19,65, Ser. No. 483,576 21 Claims. (Cl. 421-59) This invention `relates to firearms, and deals more par- Y ticularly with improvements in revolver-type firearms.

r One object ofthis invention is to provide a'rearm which `isparticula-rly, adapted for both underwater and out of water use, which is reliable andeasy to use both t lunderwaterandout of water, and which is also accurate and powerful both underwater and out of water.

.A lfurtherz object of `this invention is to provide a firearm which by `a simple manipulation `may be furnished Witha fresh supply of ammunition or converted from one type of ammunition to;` another.

, JA 1furtherl object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type rearm having a barrel assembly readily separable from a gripassembly, the barrel 4assembly being .adapted` to` contain `a plurality of t armed cartridges and lbeing readily assembled with said grip assembly for individual `firing of any one of said armed cartridges, a `singleliring mechanism in said grip assembly being operable to fire each of said cartridges in succession.

Atfurther object of the present invention is to provide tan underwater firearm in which the barrel assembly i is so constructed that the cartridges can `be individually `fired therefrom Without having to` displace a substantial amount of waters Armore `specific object of the present invention is to provi-de` an underwater firearm in which the firing mechanism `includesfa suitable safety mechanism for preventf ing inadvertent tiring of a cartridge `during assembly of the barrel `assembly `with the grip assembly or at any other time when the safety mechanism is not in the tiring conditions p Another-object of this invention is to provide a rearm ofthe foregoing character in which `a barrel assem-bly capable of` receiving a number of different ammunition cartridges maybe safely indexed prior to any one shot of `this specification being -relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

FIGLI is a front end View of an underwater firearm constructed `in accordance with the present invention.

FIGAZ is a side elevational view of the firearm shown in `FIG.1 l.

FIGi 3 `is a fragmentary perspective view of the firearm ofuFIG. 1 and shows generally the `tiring -mechanism of the grip `assembly, the barrel assembly being omitted in part `and the cover part of the grip,` assembly being shown removed. l

FIGt14 is a fragmentary perspective side view of the grip assembly frame as viewed in FIG. 3, the tiring mechanism `being `shown removed for clarity.

FIG.\5 is an enlarged and` fragmentary vertical crosssecti'onal: view taken .generally on the line 5-5 of FIG.

il United States Patent 0 9 and showing the latch for releasably holding the barrel assembly in its various tiring positions relative to the grip assembly, the latch in this view being shown in the position assumed when the hammer of the firearm is in its neutral position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and fragmentary vertical crosssectional view taken generally on the line 6 6 of FIG. 9 and shows the latch in the position assumed when the hammer is pulled rearwardly as far as it will go with the firearm in its on safe condition.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary ont elevational view of the upper part of the grip assembly of the firearm of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8'is an 'enlarged'perspective side view of the latchV f' bolt used in the firearm of FIG. 1 for releasably holding the barrel assembly to the grip assembly, this view showing the opposite side of the latch bolt from that shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged Vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a generally vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. l in part, to show the barrel portion in assembled relation with the grip portion.

FIG. l1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a barrel assembly comprising a construction alternative to that of the -preceding figures.

Turning now to the drawing in greater detail, and first considering FIGS. 1 and 2, these figures show at 10 a revolver-type firearm embodying the present invention. This firearm is in turn comprised of two basic assemblies or parts, namely a cylinder or a barrel assembly 12 and a grip assembly 14. The barrel assembly 12 serves to contain and house a number of armed cartridges, not shown, and includes a number of barrel bores which receive the cartridges and guide the projectile portions of the cartridges from the firearm during the tiring process. The `grip assembly 14 in -turn serves basically to provide a grip for holding the firearm and a firing mechanism for controllably tiring the cartridges carried by the barrel assembly. As hereinafter explained in more detail, the barrel assembly is readily separable from the grip assembly to permit loading of the barrel assembly or the interchange of different barrel assemblies with the `grip assembly. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrel assembly 12 is shown in its normal assembled relationship with the grip assembly 14.

Considering now more particularly the construction of the barrel assembly 12, and referring to FIGS. 3 and l0, this assembly comprises basically a generally cylindrical barrel 16 and a breech part 17 releasably connected with the barrel. The barrel contains a plurality (in the illustrated case six) of bores 18, 18 arranged in an equally spaced annular series about its central axis and extending the entire length thereof. The inne-r or breech ends of the six bores are chambered and counterbored as required to accommodate the particular armed cartridges de- -sired to be used with the barrel assembly. In the illustrated case, for example, each barrel bore 1S is both chambered to receive the case or shell of the cartridge and counterbored to receive the rim of such as case. The projectile portion of the cartridges may extend any distance beyond the chambered portion of its bore, but preferably the cartridges have projectile portions of such length as to extend substantially to or slightly beyond the front end of the barrel when the cartridges are in their loaded positions in the barrel assembly. The cartridges loaded in the barrel may all be similar to one another, or they may include two or more different varieties. When two or more different varieties of cartridges are loaded in one barrel, they usually will have differently shaped front ends so that by viewing or feeling the portions of the cartridges protruding from the barrel a user may readily determine the type of cartridge which is in the firing position.

Another bore 20 extends longitudinally through the center of the barrel 16. This center bore includes an intermediate portion 22, a reduced diameter portion 24 adjacent the front end of the barrel, an internally threaded portion 26 located to the rear of the intermediate portion 22 and an unthreaded enlarged diameter portion adjacent the rear end of the barrel. Among other things, the bore 20 serves to receive an ejector rod 30 which is removable from the bore, when the breech part 17 is disconnected from the barrel, and usuable as a tool for displacing empty cartridge shells from the cartridge receiving bores 18, 18.

The outer surface of the barrel is machined or otherwise formed to provide a series of flutes or grooves 32, 32 located generally between the areas occupied by the bores 18, 18 and extending from the front edge of the barrel to a point spaced some distance from the rear end of the barrel. These flutes or grooves in addition to improving the appearance of the firearm and reducing its weight also define a series of ribs or longitudinal bars 34, 34 each of which is located over the center of an associated one of the bores 18, 18 so as to serve as an aid in sighting or aiming the firearm. As shown best in FIG. 10, the barrel also includes a small bore 36 which extends from the rear face of the barrel to the rear end of one of the flutes, the forward portion of this bore being of a smaller diameter than the rear portion. Fitted into this bore is a thumb operable latch 38 having at its forward end an exposed thumb engageable portion 32 and at its rear end a portion or part 42 having a point or finger arranged to enter an opening 44 in the fbreeohV part 17 to properly angularly locate the breech part relative to the barrel and to prevent undesired relative rotation of said two parts. A spring 46 in the enlarged diameter portion of the bore 36 biases the latch 38 to the illustrated position and a shoulder 48 limits movement of the latch beyond the position shown when the breech part is removed from the barrel. FIG. 2, it will be obvious that by placing a thumb or finger -on the exposed thumb engageable latch portion 40, the latch may be drawn forwardly to unlatch the breech part for angular movement relative to the barrel.

With further reference to the barrel 16, under some conditions of use and with some types of cartridges, the firearm may tend to rise at its front end as it is fired. This tendency may be readily and easily overcome by providing each of t-he barrel bores with a transverse vent, such as shown at 50 in FIG. 10, which faces upwardly when the associated bore is in the firing position. When such a vent is provided, gases generated by the explosion of the cartridge powder will escape through the vent shortly before the projectile leaves the final portion of its bore, and Ithis will have the effect of producing a downward force on the front end of the barrel counteracting the rising tendency and thereby improving the accuracy of the firearm.

The breech part 17 normally closes the breech ends of the barrel bores 18, 18 and includes a radially extending disc portion 52, a forwardly extending stem 54 and a rearwardly extending stem 56. The disc portion 52 overlies the breech ends of the bores 18, 18 and has a fiat forwardly facing surface which fiatly engages' a corresponding flat surface on the rear end of the barrel 16 when the breech part is in its fully assembled.

From FIG. andY scribed, as part ofthe means for rotatably land releasably supporting the barrel assembly relative to the grip assembly and includes a relatively long straight cylindrical section 58 adjacent the disc portion S2. Adjacent its free end is a shouldered circular recess or groove 60 followed by a conical end portion 62, the conical end portion being separated from the circular groove 60` by a radial shoulder 64.

(The disc portion of the breech part includes an annular series of generally .conical openings 66, 66 for receiving the firing pin of the firing mechanism. The openings pass completely through the disc portion 52 and when the breech part is in its fully assembled position with respect to the barrel, each opening 66 is aligned with a respective one of the barrel lbores 18, 18. Also on the rear face -of the disc portion, and inwardly of the series of openings 64, 64, is an arrangement of surfaces defining a ratchet 68 which is cooperable with a hand in the firing mechanism for indexing the barrel assembly. For holding the barrel assembly in its various proper firing positions, the disc portion further includes a number of index notches 70, 70 in its rear edge, this edgeY being preferably beveled as shown.

Considering now the construction of the grip assembly 14, and first `referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, this aS- Y sembly includes a main frame 72 and a -cover 74 which when assembled as shown in FIG. 2, provide a grip 76 for holding the firearm and also define an enclosed chamber. 78 for receiving the firing mechanism. The main frame 72 includes a trigger guard 79 and an opening 81 suitable for receiving a lanyard, if desired, for tying the firearm to the wrist, belt or other parts of the body or clothing of a user to prevent loss. Above the trigger guard the main frame includes a vertically and transversely extending forward Wall 81 having a fiat forwardly facing surface 83. The cover 74 has a corresponding Wall 85 with a fiat forwardly facing surface 87 which is located in the same plane as the surface 83 when the cover is in its normal assembled position with the main frame. The cover 74 is held in assembled relation with the main frame by three screws, not shown, which pass through openings in the cover and which are threaded into threaded openings, indicated at 82, 82 in FIG. 3, two of which are formed directly in the main frame and one of Which is provided in the hammer pivot screw as hereinafter described.

As part of the means for releasably and rotatably supporting the barrel assembly relative to the grip assembly, the main frame 72, as shown best in FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and 10, includes a socket defining portion 84 located generally in the mechanism chamber 78 and including a longitudinal bore or socket 86 for rotatably receiving the straight cylindrical portion 58 of the rear stem 56 of the breech part 17. The length of the socket 86 is such that the breech part stem 56, when the barrel assembly is fully assembled with the grip assembly, extends some distance lbeyond the rear end of the socket to expose the circular groove 60 and radial shoulder 64. Pivotally supported on the rnain frame by a pivot screw 88 for rotation about a transverse axis is a thumb operable latch 90. The major portion of this latch is located on the louter side of the main frame and includes a laterally outwardly extending projection 92 which is so located as to be engageable and capable of being pushed forwardly by the thumb of a user when the ygrip 76 of the firearm is gripped in the usual manner by the hand of the user. On the inner face of the latch 90, as shown best in FIG. 8, are two laterally inwardly extending fingers 94 and 96 which pass through openings in the main frame and enter the Vfiring mechanism chamber 78. Below the socket defining portion 84 of the main frame is another smaller portion 97 including a longitudinally extendig bore 98 which receives a helical compression spring 99. The bore 98 extends through the forward frame wall 81 and at its forward end is closed by a plug screw 100 threaded y i tudinally tof the mainframe.

thereim The spring 99 at its forward end bears against the screwlll and at its rear end bears against the finger 96mm `.bias `the latch `90 into latching relationship with theicircular `recess 60 of the breech part. This latch- Wing relationship :is in turn accomplished by the finger 94wwhich `enters `the recess 60 and bears against the `radial `shoulder 64 .to` hold the breech part in the position `shown `iin FIG. l0. At this point, it should be noted also, that the opening 101, see FIG. 8, in the latch slightly larger diameter` than the corresponding portion ofithepivot iscrew` so that the latch in addition to being rotatable `is capable of moving a limited amount longi- Asi` a result, the compresi sion spring 99 not only biases the latch angularly about the.1 pivot;screw ..83 `but alsobiases it rearwardly.

`Th`e...relationship of the parts is further such that l when the breech part is in its fully assembled and latched condition with the grip` assembly, the `radial shoulder 64,of` the breech part holds the latch 90 slightly `away fromits rearward limited position. As a result, a large l part.; of the. force of the springy 99 is transferred to the breech part `to hold the rear face of the |breech part disc l gportion` `52 in relatively tight engagement with the fori ward facing surfaces 83 and 87 of the main frame and cover.` j Itllwill, of course, be` understood that as the latch is moved from the latched position illustrated in .f FIG.` 2, `lby pushing forwardly on:` the projection 92, the finger 94 `is Iswung from the recess 60' to release the barrel l` assembly for :movement from` the grip assembly, this being.accomplishedz by grasping the `barrel and pulling j itjforwardly relatively to the grip assembly. Also, when `thejbarrel assembly `is reassembled with the grip assembly, `.the `conical end portion 62 of the breech part stemjengages the latch finger 94 and rotates the latch 3 slightlyl` to allow the finger to pass over the end portion `1 and into the `groove 60 as `the barrel assembly is pushed rearwardly relativeto the grip assembly.

The firing mechanism is located primarily in the enclosed chamber `78 and constitutes basically a trigger .104, la hammer 106, a main spring assembly 168, a barrelindexing hand 110 land a barrel latch 112` The trigger 1041 is pivotally secured to the main frame by a pivot pini 1114, and the hammer 106 is pivotally secured tol the main `frame by a pivot screw 116 which, as shown best` `inFIG. 9, is threaded into and passes i through themmain frame and additionally provides one of the threaded openings 82, 82,` for receiving one of the `screws `which holds the cover 74 in place relative t-othemain frame. At its upper end, the hammer passes through anopening 118 in the main frame and includes arspur` 120 `which is intended to be engaged by the thumbrof theuser and pulled rearwardly to move the hammerfrom its forward to its rearward or cocked position. Extending from the forward face of the hammer isl a hardened firing pin 121, which moves through an opening 122. in the: forward frame wall 81 and has a` real'` portion locked in a bore in the hammer by a transverse` lock pin 123, as best shown in FIG. l0. Between the `pivot screw 116 and its upper end portion, the `hammerjcomprises an intermediate` portion 124 which is in the shape `of a relatively thin plate or web located adjacent the side wall of the oover 74 between the `latter' side "wall, and the socket `defining portion 84 of the mainframe. From FIG. 9, it will be noted that 1n `vertical section, the hammer has a generally U-shaped appearance `and surrounds the socket defining portion 84.\ll`Also, at the upper end portion of the hammer is an arcuate generally rearwardly extending tail 125 which at its forward end by a plug screw 130. The spring 126 at its forward end bears against the screw 130 and at its rear end bears against the upper portion of the trigger at a point located slightly above the trigger pivot screw 116, as shown best in FIG. 10. The hammer is in turn biased toward its forward or firing position by the main spring assembly 108 which includes a helical compression spring 132, a hammer engaging head 134 fixed to a shaft 136 which receives the spring 132, and a bushing 138 Which slidably receives the rear endof the shaft and provides a shoulder for engaging the rear end of the spring 132. The bushing 138 is fitted into a slot 140 defined in the main frame and is restrained against rearward movement by a ange 142. The head 134 is engaged and urged forwardly by the forward end of the spring 132. At its forward end the head 134 includes a forwardly projecting finger 144 and a transversely extending surface 146. Included in the hammer is a rearwardly facing notch 148 which receives the finger 144 and a finger 150 which bears against the transverse surface 146. The neutral position of the hammer is shown in FIG. 3 and in this position the finger 144 engages the end of the hammer notch 148 at the same time as the hammer finger 150 engages the transverse surface 146. In this position of the hammer, the firing pin terminates short of the forward face of the breech disc 52. From the neutral position shown in FIG. 3, the hammer may be moved counterclock- Wise to a cocked position by a rearward force applied to the spur, and as the hammer moves to this cocked position the finger 144 of the main spring assembly remains in the hammer notch 14S to bias the hammer back toward its neutral position. When the hammer is fired or released from its cocked position, it may also move forwardly or clockwise, as a result of its inertia, from its neutral or FIG. 3 position to permit the firing pin to enter the chamber of the associated barrel bore to fire the cartridge therein. This firing position is shown in FIG. l0, and from this figure, it will be noted that as the firing pin reaches the firing position, the finger 144 moves slightly away from the end of the hammer notch 14S, but the hammer finger 150 remains engaged by the transverse surface 146 of the hammer to exert a biasing force on the hammer tending to return the Same toward its neutral position.

The barrel indexing hand 110 is pivotally connected with the hammer by a ltransverse journal portion 152, see FIG. l0, which is loosely received in a corresponding opening in the hammer. The hand extends upwardly from this journal portion and through a slot 154 formed in the forward wall 85 of the cover 74. The upper end of the hand is biased forwardly into engagement with the ratchet 68 on the rear of the breech disc 52 by a helical compression spring 156 which is located in a blind bore in the hammer and which at its forward end bears against the rear surface of the hand, as shown in FIG. 3.

The barrel latch 112 is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is located in a slot 158 which passes through the upper portion of the forward wall 81 of the main frame. The latch is in turn connected with the main frame by a pin 160 which passes transversely through .the slot and through an elongated opening 162 in the latch. A forward portion or finger 164 of the latch extends beyond the forward frame surface 83 and, when the hammer is in the neutral position, engages one of the notches 70, 70 of the breech disc 52, as shown in FIG. 5, to hold the barrel assembly in one of its firing positions relative to the grip assembly. The latch is biased toward such latching relationship with `the notches 70, 70 by a spring 166 located in a vertical bore of the main frame and pushing upwardly against the bottom of the latch at a point spaced rearwardly of the pivot pin 160. In addition to holding the finger 164 of the latch in engagement with the associated barrel notch 70, this spring also tends to raise the latch so that the lower end of the elongated opening 162 engages the pin. Above the pin 160 the latch further includes a generally vertical shoulder 168 which is engageable by a hook 170 formed on the spur portion of the hammer as the hammer is moved rearwardly from its neutral to its cocked position to rotate the latch and raise the forward portion 164 out of the associated notch 70.

The relationship of the parts is such that as the hammer is moved rearwardly to its cocked position, the latch linger 164 at an intermediate position of the hammer spaced rearwardly from its neutral position, is engaged by the hook 170 and raised from the notch 70. The latch finger is then held in this raised position throughout a given range of further rearward hammer travel during which the hook 170 of the spur passes over the upper latch surface 172 located rearwardly of the shoulder 168. During the time that the latch is held in this raised position by the hook 170, the barrel assembly is free to rotate relative to the grip assembly and the barrel indexing hand 110 engages one of the ratchet teeth on the breech disc and rotates the lbarrel a slight amount to move the immediate notch 70 out of alignment with the latch linger 164. After the latch is released by the hook 170, as a result of further rearward movement of the spur and hammer, the latch portion 164 drops back onto the beveled rear edge of the 4breech disc and remains on said beveled edge until a new notch 71) is moved into alignment therewith. Such movement of a new notch into alignment with the latch linger occurs as the hammer reaches its cocked position and, therefore, as the cocked position is reached, the barrel is automatically latched into the new firing position by the latch. As the hammer moves forwardly in firing, the forward inclined surface 174 of the hook 170 engages the rear portion of the bar-rel latch and pushes it downwardly, the elongated opening 162 thereupon sliding relatively to the pin 160 to permit the hook to return to its neutral position as shown in FIG. 5 without unlatching the 4barrel assembly.

A safety mechanism is also included in the firearm and is movable between a safe condition and a firing condition to selectively prevent or permit firing of the firearm. This safety mechanism is further such that when it is in its safe condition, the hammer is prevented from moving forwardly to its firing position but either is positioned or may be moved to such a position as to release the barrel assembly for rotation relative to the grip assembly. The details of the safety mechanism may vary widely without departing from the invention, and in the illustrated case, it is shown to include a generally cylindrical part 176, referred to as a safety bar, slidably received in a transverse bore in the upper or spur portion of the hammer. This safety bar is movable transversely relative to the hammer between two different detent positions at which it extends slightly from one or the other side of the hammer. Referring to FIG. 9, this ligure in solid lines shows theV part 176 in one of its detent positions, this lbeing the safety position, and the broken lines show it in its other detent position, this being the firing position. From FIG. 9, it will further be noted that the left-hand side of the part 176 is cut away along its lower end so that the remaining portion which does project `beyond the adjacent side of the hammer in the firing position passes over the upper edge 178 of the cover without interference during the movement of the hammer between its neutral and cocked positions. Also, when the part is in its firing position, the right-hand end of the part 176 is housed within or at least flush with the side of the hammer so that it will be incapable of interferring with any portion of the main frame. From FIG. 9, it will be noted, however, that when the part 176 is moved to its safety position, the right-hand portion of the part extends beyond the adjacent side of the hammer and enters a conforming recess 180, shown best in FIGS. 4 and 6, formed in the main frame adjacent the slot 158 for the barrel latch. The recess 180 is of such arcuate extent as to prevent forward travel of the hammer Ibeyond its neutral position and to permit a small limited rearward movement of the hammer from its neutral position when the associated end portion of the safety bar 176 is located therein. Therefore, the hammer by engagement between the part 176 and the wall of the recess 180 cannot -be moved forwardly from its neutral position to fire a cartridge by forward forces applied to the hammer as might occur in dropping the firearm. As shown best in FIG. 6, the -amount of rearward hammer travel permitted when the safety bar is in the 4recess 180 is just enough to permit the hook 170 of the hammer to engage and raise the barrel latch from latching engagement with the barrel assembly. The movement permitted, however, is not enough to permit the hook 170 to move rearwardly beyond the latch and therefore `at the rearward limit of the movement, the latch is held by the hammer in its raised position. Therefore, when the firearm is in its safe condi-tion, the user, by pulling back as far as possible on the hammer may free the barrel assembly for rotation relative to the grip assembly and may thereby select any one of the cartridges loaded in the barrel for firing. This is, of course, of particular advantage in cases Where the barrel assembly is loaded with a number of different types of cartridges. The detent arrangement for holding the safety bar 176 in its two detent positions includes two circumferential grooves 182, 182 on its outer l surface and a spring 'biased detent element 184, the detent element and its associated spring being located in a small bore in the spur portion of the hammer forwardly of the part 176. In FIG. 6, the broken lines show the safety bar 176 in the position occupied when the hammer is in its neutral position.

For controlling the cocking and firing of the hammer, the hammer includes a sear notch 186 which is engageable by a sear 188 formed on the upperend portion of the trigger 104. As the hammer is moved to its cocked position, the trigger spring 126 moves the sear 188 into engagement with the sear notch 186 to hold the hammer in its cocked position. As the lower portion of the trigger is moved rearwardly, the sear is pulled from the sear notch to release the hammer for movement by the main spring to its lfiring position.

From the foregoing description of the construction of the firearm, it will be understood that it is particularly well adapted Ifor use under water. More particularly, the 'barrel assembly and igrip assembly may be readily attached and removed from one another. This permits a diver to carry a number of loaded barrel assemblies and to readily interchange such assemblies with the grip assembly to reload the firearm after the cartridges of one barrel assembly have been fired or to arm the lirearm with a different type of cartridge, it being possible to load one barrel assembly with one type of a cartridge an-d another barrel lassembly with another type of cartridge. Furthermore, the lirearm is so constructed that substantially all of the parts thereof may be made from stainless steel so as to resist corrosion and rusting as a result of immersion in water. Still further, the parts of the firing mechanism and particularly the intermediate portion 12-4 of the hammer are so constructed as to displace very little water during the liring of the firing mechanism so that the water in the firing mechanism cavity will not impede the movement of the hammer suiiiciently to prevent the tiring of a cartridge as it is struck by the firing pin. In this regard, it should be particularly noted that the intermediate hammer portion is curved along its forward and rear edges so as to give it a stream-line effect as it moves through the water in the vfiring mechanism.

In addition to the barrel assembly construction described above, another construction such as that shown in FIG. l1 may be employed in the firearm. Referling to this figure, the barrel assembly there shown is generally similar to that described above except for including a breech part 190 which is connected to the barrel 192 by external `sociated` barrel bore;

threads 1941onthe rear end portion of the barrel and i internalt threads 19z6 `formed on the breech part. This eliminates the need for a forwardly extending stem on f "the `breech part as in the previous construction, but except [for `thiszchange, thei'breech part 190 is or may be i Isiniilar tothe breech part 17 and includes a disc portion 198 and a rearwardly extending stem 200. The elimina- `tion of the forwardly extending stem of the breech part "isengageable with the rims of cartridges, such as shown at 208, located in the bores of the barrel for moving the cartridges. from the barrelbores after being fired. FIG. 11 shows the extractor in a position at which the head 20G-thas movedthei cartridge 208i partially from its as- When the breech part 190 is fully assembled with the barrel 192; it holds the extractor l head 206iwithin a recess 210 formed in the breech end i `of` thel barrel. j The extractor includes another portion `212.which` extends forwardly beyond `the forward end ofthe barrel `and which, after the breech part is removed `frornthe barrel, is movable rearwardly to move the extractor head from its recess to expel the cartridges.

"The invention claimed is:

i 1.1A `firearm `comprising a grip assembly and a barrel assembly,` said barrel assembly including a barrel having 1p a pluralityof bores spaced circumaxially `.about a central p i j axis and :extending: through the length thereof and a breech part releasably connected with said barrel, said breeciim'part having a portion which closes the breech ends iof said bores whentsaid breech part ,is connected p with saidmbarrel,` said breech ends of said bores being open :for the insertation and removal of cartridges when `saidbreech part is` disconnected `from said barrel, and said` grip assembly including means for releasably mounting said barrel assembly to said grip assembly for rotation ofsaid barrel assembly relative to said grip assembly p about said central axis and also including a Afiring mechanisrnifor` firing cartridges positioned in said bores.

2.11A firearm as defined in claim 1 further characterized bores being annular in shape and having ratchet teeth oni` the rear face `thereof and a plurality of indexing notches in the rear radially outer edge thereof, and said Lfiring mechanismof said grip assembly including a hand engageable with said ratchet teeth for rotating said barrel i e assembly relative to said grip assembly during a portion ofthe iringprocedure and a latch engageable with any givenone of said indexing notches to hold said barrel assembly against rotation relative toisaid grip assembly duringfanother portion of the firing procedure.

3.` `A firearm comprising a grip assembly and a barrel assembly, said `barrel laseinbly including a barrel having a plurality of `circumaxially spaced bores extending throughgthe length thereof and a breech part releasably connected with said barrel, said breech part having an annular portion which closes the breech ends of said bores when said" breech part is connected with said barrel and a rearwardly extending stem, and said grip assembly including :means for releasably mounting said barrel assembly to said grip assembly for rotation of said barrel assembly relative to said grip assembly about the axis of said rearwardly extending stem and also including a firing mechanism for firing cartridges positioned in said barrel bores.

4. 1A firearm as defined in claim 3 [further characterized 'by said `annular portion of said breech part including a plurality `of openings passing therethrough and each communicating with a respective one of said bores when said breech Ilpart is connected with said barrel, and said firing mechanism `including a firing pin movable through a by said means for releasably mounting said barrel assembly to said grip assembly including means defining a socket in said grip assembly for rotatably and longitudinally slidably receiving said rearwardly extending stern of said breech part, means defining a circumferential groove in said stem, and a latch on said grip assembly having a finger movable into and out of said groove when said barrel assembly is fully assembled with said grip assembly and when in said groove serving to hold said grip and barrel assemblies in said fully assembled condition.

`6. A firearm as defined in claim 5 further characterized 4by said grip assembly having means defining a forwardly facing surface surrounding the forward end of said socket, said barrel assembly having means defining a rearwardly facing surface surrounding said rearwardly extending stem, a pivot pin for said latch, said latch having an opening for. receiving said pivot pin which opening is of such a shape as to permit said latch to move lboth angularly and a limited extent forwardly and rearwardly, and biasing means for said latch for biasing the latter both angularly into latching engagement with said stem and rearwardly so as to urge said stem rearwardly and draw said rearwardly facing surface of said barrel assembly into engagement with said forwardly facing surface of said grip assembly.

7. A firearm as defineed in claim 6 further characterized by said grip assembly including a frame having a portion defining said socket and said biasing means comprising another portion of said frame having a rearwardly opening borel arranged generally parallel to said socket, said biasing means including a compression spring in said latter bore, and means defining a forwardly facing surface on said latch engageable with the rear end of said spring, said spring being of such length as to be compressed between said forwardly facing latch surface and the forward end of the bore in which it is received.

8. A firearm as dened in claim 3 further characterized by said breech part and said barrel including coengageable threaded portions for threadably connecting said breech part to said barrel, and means for releasably holding said breech part and said barrel part against further relative motion when in their fully assembled condition.

9. A firearm as defined in claim 8 further characterized by said coengageable threaded portions including a forwardly extending externally threaded stem on said breech part and an internally threaded central bore in said barrel.

10. A firearm as defined in claim 9 further characterized by said forwardly extending stem having a forwardly `opening bore and said central bore extending the full length of said barrel and having a reduced diameter portion at its forward end defining a radially inwardly extending shoulder, and an ejector rod positioned in said central bore, said ejector rod having a portion extending through said reduced diameter portion of said central barrel bore and beyond the forward end of said barrel and having a radially outwardly extending shoulder engageable with said radially inwardly extending shoulder of said barrel to limit forward displacement of said rod, said ejector rod further having a rear end portion receivable in said bore of said forwardly extending stem of said breech part when said breech part is connected with said barrel, said ejector rod when said breech part is disconnected from said barrel being removable from said central barrel bore `and usable as a tool for pushing cartridges from said circumaxially spaced bores.

11. A firearm as defined in claim 8 further characterized by said coengageable threaded portions including an externally threaded portion adjacent the rear end of said barrel and an internally threaded portion extending forwardly from the radially outer margin of said annular por-tion of said breech part.

12. A firearm as defined in claim 11 further characterized by said barrel including a central bore extending through the length thereof and a recess in the rear end of said barrel between said cent-ral bore and said circumaxially spaced bores, and an extractor slidably received in said central bore, said extractor having a head on its rear end receivable in said recess and engageable with the rims of cartridges positions in said circumaxially spaced bores to move said cartridges from said bores as said head is moved rearwardly from said recess, said head being held in said recess by said breech part when said breech part is fully connected with said barrel and said extractor extending forwardly beyond said barrel so that the forward end thereof may be pushed rearwardly to move said head rearwardly when said breech part is disconnected from said barrel.

13. A firearm as defined in claim 3 furthe-r characterized by said barrel including a plurality of vents each communicating with a respective one of said barrel bores and each arranged so as to be directed generally upwardly when the associated barrel bore is in a firing position.

14. A firearm as defined in claim 3 further characterized by said grip assembly including means defining a substantially enclosed chamber for housing parts of said firing mechanism and having an opening in the upper portion thereof, said firing mechanism including a hammer pivotally connected with said chamber defining means for movement between neutral, cocked and firing positions relative thereto and having an upper portion extending from said chamber through and beyond said opening, said upper hammer portion having an opening passing transversely therethrough, and a safety part received in said transverse opening and slidable relative thereto to cause one or the other end thereof to extend beyond the associated side of said upper hammer portion, said chamber defining means on one side of said upper hammer portion being so shaped as not to interfere with said safety part during pivotal movement of said hammer when the adjacent end of said safety part is extended from the associated side of said upper hammer portion and said chamber defining means on the other side of said upper hammer portion being so shaped as to define a recess for receiving the adjacent end of said safety part when it is extended from the associated side of said hammer, said recess being of such shape as to be engageable With said safety part when the adjacent end thereof is received therein to prevent movement of said hammer from its neutral position to its firing position.

15. A firearm as defined in claim 14 further characterized by means defining a plurality of angularly spaced index notches in said barrel assembly, said firing mechanism including a barrel latch movable into and out of an adjacent one of said index notches to releasably hold said barrel assembly in any one of a corresponding plurality of index positions relative to said grip assembly, and means for moving said barrel latch out of the immediately associated index notch in response to movement of said hammer from its neutral position toward its cocked position and for thereafter moving said latch into another notch before said hammer reaches its cocked position, said recess which conditionally receives the `adjacent end of sid safety part having such a length as to permit said hammer to be moved a limited extent from its neutral position toward its cocked position when the adjacent end of said safety part is received therein, the amount of such permitted movement being such that at the limit thereof said means for moving said barrel latch holds said barrel'V latch out of said index notches to permit said barrel assembly to be manually rotated to any desired index position.

16. In a firearm the combination comprising separate grip and barrel assemblies, said barrel assembly including an elongated barrel having a plurality of longitudinally extending bores angularly spaced in a series about its central axis and also including a breech part with a disc portion for closing the breech ends of said bores, said breech part disc portion having a plurality of openings therethrough each communicating with a respective one of said bores, said breech part further including a rearwardly extending cylindrical stem having an annular groove adjacent its rear end, said grip assembly including a frame with a cylindrical socket for rotatably receiving said stem and of such a size and shape that at least a portion of said annular groove of said stem is exposed when said stem is positioned as far as possible in said socket, a latch having a finger, means supporting said latch for movement of said finger relative to said frame into and out of said annular stem groove and in a direction longitudinally of said socket, means biasing said latch to urge said finger into said annular stem groove and rearwardly of said socket so as to draw said breech part axially into tight engagement with said grip assembly, a tab on said latch engageable by the thumb or finger of the user to move said latch against the force of said biasing means to remove said latch finger from said stem groove and thereby to release said stem for removal of said barrel assembly from said grip assembly, and a firing mechanism included in said grip assembly and including a firing pin adapted to move forwardly from a cocked position through one of said openings in said breech part into a firing positino whereat it is adapted to fire a cartridge positioned in one of said barrel bores.

17. In a firearm the combination comprising a grip frame and cover defining a grip and a substantially enclosed chamber having an opening in the upper portion thereof, said grip frame and cover each including a forward wall defining forwardly facing lcoplanar surfaces, said grip frame including a socket openingv extending through the forward wall thereof and through a portion of said grip frame located behind said forward wall, a firing mechanism housed at least in part within said substantially enclosed chamber and including a hammer pivotally connected with said grip frame for movement about a transverse axis located below said socket opening for movement between neutral, cocked and firing positions relative to said grip frame and having an upper portion located above said socket opening and extending from said chamber through and beyond said opening therein, said upper hammer portion having an opening passing transversely therethrough, a barrel having a plurality of circumaxially spaced bores extending through the length thereof, a breech part, threaded portions on said breech part and said barrel for threadably connecting said breech part of said barrel, means for releasably holding said breech part and said barrel against threading relative motion when in a fully connected condition, said breech part having an annular portion which closes the breech ends of said barrel bores when said breech part is connected with said barrel land a rearwardly extending stem receivable in said socket opening of said grip frame to rotatably support said ibreech part and barrel relative to said grip frame, said annular portion of said breech part having a plurality of openings passing therethrough each communicating with a respective one of said barrel bores When said breech part is connected with the barrel and having a rear face including a set of ratchet teeth, said annular breech part further including a series of angularly spaced notches in the rear radially outer edge thereof, said forward wall of said grip frame including an opening passing therethrough and located above said socket opening and said hammer including a forwardly extending firing pin movable through said latter opening and through a given one of said openings in said annular portion of said breech part to fire a cartridge positioned in the associated barrel bore, said rearwardly extending stern on said breech part including an annular groove adjacent its rear end, said stern being of such a size and shape that at least a portion of said annular groove is exposed when said stem is positioned as far as possible in said socket, a latch having a finger, means supporting said latch for movement of said finger relative to said grip frame into and out of said annular stem groove and in a direction longitudinally of said socket opening, means biasing said latch to urge said finger into said annular stem groove ,l andrrearwardly of said socket opening so as to draw said t breech part axially to cause said rear face of said breech part to,` tightly engage said forwardly facing surfaces of saidfgrip iframe` and cover, `a tab on said latch engageable bythe thumb or `finger of theuser to move said latch said `grip frame,` a safety part received in said transverse opening ofsaid hammer and slidable relative thereto to 'cause `one or the other end thereof to extend beyond the `associated side of said upper hammer portion, said grip v frame and cover on one side of said upper hammer portionfbeing `so shaped as not to interfere with said safety part `duringgpivotal `movement of said hammer when the adjacent end :of said safety part is extended from the `associated side of said upper hammer portion `and said grip frame and cover being so shaped as to define a recess for receiving the adjacent end of said safety part when it isiextended from `the associated side of said hammer and `whemthe hammer` is in a given neutral position relative to` said; grip frame and cover, said recess being of such shape as to be engageable with said safety part when the t `adjacent end thereof is received therein to prevent move- ,ment of said hammerfrom its neutral position to its ring position, :1a hand pivotally connected with said hammer and biased `toward engagement With said ratchet teeth on saidl breech part for indexing said breech part and barrel in response to movement of said hammer, a barrel latch `pivotally and slidably connected with said grip frame and lncludmg a linger releasably engageable with a given one of said notches in `said breech `part to hold said breech part and `barrel ina given angular` position relative to said grip frame, said upper portion of said hammer including ,all hook `portion engageable `with said barrel latch for i `neutral position toward its cocked position when the adjacentend lof said safety part is received therein, the amount; of such permitted movement being such that at the `limit `thereof said hook `portion of said hammer holds said barrelflatch "out of engagement with said notches of `said breech part topermit` said breech part and barrel t 1 be freelylrotated relative to said grip frame.

i 19p` In a firearm the combination comprising a frame, a cartridge receiving part` having a number of cartridge receiving :bores therein and rotatably mounted to said frame for movement between a number of index positions at `each of which a respective one of said cartridge receiving boresr is `located in a firing position relative to said frame,;` a `hammer carried by said frame and movable relative thereto between a forward tiring position and a rearward cocked position, a latch mechanism for releasably holding said cartridge receiving part in a selected one of` said `index positions, said latch mechanism being movable between a released condition at which said cartridge receiving part is free to rotate relative to said frame and a latched condition at which said cartridge receiving part is prevented from `rotating relative to said frame, means for operating saidtlatch mechanism in accordance with the position of said hammer relative to said frame and in such a `manner that said latch mechanism is in its latched condition when said hammer is in its tiring position and thatas said hammer is moved from its firing to its cocked position `said latch `mechanism is moved from its latched condition to `its released condition as the hammer reaches an: intermediate position and is held in said released condition overa given range of travel of said hammer rearwardly `beyond said intermediate position, and a safety mechanismmovable between a safe condition and a firing condition for selectively preventing and permitting tiring of said firearm, said safety mechanism including parts which when said safety mechanism is in its safe condition are coengageable to prevent movement of said hammer to its tiring position and which parts are so constructed and arranged as to permit placement of said hammer at a position within said given range of travel at which said latch mechanism is in its released condition to free said cartridge receiving part for rotation relative to said frame.

20. In a firearm the combination comprising a frame, a cartridge receiving part having a number of cartridge receiving bores therein and rotatably mounted to said frame for movement between a number of index positions at each of which a respective one of said cartridge receiving bores is located in a tiring position relative to said frame, a hammer carried by said frame and movable relative thereto between a forward firing position and a rearward cocked position, a latch mechanism for releasably holding said cartridge receiving part in a selected one of said index positions, said latch mechanism being movable between a released condition at which said cartridge receiving part is free to rotate relative to said frame and at latched condition at which said cartridge receiving part is prevented from rotating relative to said frame, means for operating said latch mechanism in accordance with the position of said hammer relative to said frame and in such a manner that said latch mechanism is in its latched condition when said hammer is in its firing position and that as said hammer is moved from its firing to its cocked position, said latch mechanism is moved from its latched condition to its released condition as the hammer reaches an intermediate position and is held in said released condition over a given range of travel of said hammer rearwardly beyond said intermediate position, and a safety mechanism movable between a safe condition and a tiring condition for selectively preventing and permitting ring of said firearm, said safety mechannism including parts Which when said safety mechanism is in its safe condition are coengageable to restrict forward movement of said hammer to a forward limit position located between said rring position and said intermediate position and which parts are so constructed and arranged as to permit said hammer to be moved rearwardly from said forward limit position to a position located within said given range of travel throughout which said latch mechanism is in a released condition so that when said safety mechanism is in its safe condition said cartridge receiving part may be released for rotation relative to said frame by moving said hammer rearwardly from said forward limit position.

21. In a firearm the combination comprising a frame, a cartridge receiving part having a number of cartridge receiving bores therein and rotatably mounted to said frame for movement between a number of index positions at each of which a respective one of said cartridge receiving bores is located in a firing position relative to said frame, a hammer carried by said frame and movable relative thereto between -a forward firing position and a rearward cocked position, a latch mechanism for releasably holding said cartridge receiving part in a selected one of said index positions, said latch mechanism being movable between a released condition at which said cartridge receiving part is free to rotate relative to said frame and at latched condition at which said cartridge receiving part is prevented from rotating relative to said frame, means for operating said latch mechanism in accordance with the position of said hammer relative to said frame and in such a manner that said latch mechanism is in its latched condition when said hammer is in its firing position and that as said hammer is moved from its tiring to its cocked position said lat-ch mechanism is moved from its latched condition to its released condition as the hammer reaches an intermediate position and is held in said released condition over a given range of travel of said hammer rearwardly beyond said intermediate posil5 tion, and a safety mechanism movable between a safe condition and 'a firing condition for'selectively preventing and permitting ring of said rearm, said safety mechanism including parts which when said safety mechanism is in its safe ycondition are coengageable to restrict the movement of said hammer toa range extending between a forward limit at which said hammer is positioned between said ring position and said intermediate position and a rearward limit located within said given range of travel throughout which said latch mechanism is in a released condition so that when said safety mechanism is in its safe condition said cartridge receiving part may be released for rotation relative to said frame by moving said hammer to the rearward limit of its restricted movement.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FIREARM COMPRISING A GRIP ASSEMBLY AND A BARREL ASSEMBLY, SAID BARREL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BARREL HAVING A PLURALITY OF BORES SPACED CIRCUMAXIALLY ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE LENGTH THEREOF AND A BREECH PART RELEASABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID BARREL, SAID BREECH PART HAVING A PORTION WHICH CLOSES THE BREECH ENDS OF SAID BORES WHEN SAID BREECH PART IS CONNECTED WITH SAID BARREL, SAID BREECH ENDS OF SAID BORES BEING OPEN FOR THE INSERTATION AND REMOVAL OF CARTRIDGES WHEN SAID BREECH PART IS DISCONNECTED FROM SAID BARREL, AND SAID GRIP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY MOUNTING SAID BARREL ASSEMBLY TO SAID GRIP ASSEMBLY FOR ROTATION OF SAID BARREL ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID GRIP ASSEMBLY ABOUT SAID CENTRAL AXIS AND ALSO INCLUDING A FIRING MECHANISM FOR FIRING CARTRIDGES POSITIONED IN SAID BORES. 